BACKGROUND Blink and masseter reflexes provide reliable, quantifiable data on the function of the central nervous system: Delayed latencies have been found in patients with neurocognitive disorder (ND) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but this has not been studied in patients with both pathologies. AIM To investigate if older adults with ND plus T2DM have prolonged latencies of blink and masseter-reflex and if they were associated with disease progression. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 227 older adults (> 60 years) from Colima, Mexico. Neurocognitive disorder was identified by a neuropsychological battery test, and T2DM identified by medical history, fasting glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin. Latencies in the early reflex (R1), ipsilateral late (R2), and contralateral late (R2c) components of the blink reflex were analyzed for all subjects, and 183 subjects were analyzed for latency of the masseter reflex. RESULTS In 20.7% of participants, ND was detected. In 37%, T2DM was detected. Latencies in R1, R2, and R2c were significantly prolonged for groups with ND plus T2DM, ND, and T2DM, compared with the control group ( P < 0.0001). The masseter reflex was only prolonged in older adults (regardless of T2DM status) with ND vs controls ( P = 0.030). In older adults with ND and without T2DM, the more the cognitive impairment progressed, the more prolonged latencies in R2 and R2c presented ( P < 0.01). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that blink and masseter reflexes could be used to evaluate possible changes in brainstem circuits in older adults with ND and T2DM.

Background: Recovery between efforts is critical to achieving optimal physical and sports performance. In this sense, many nutritional supplements that have been proven to improve recovery and physical and physiological performance are widely used. Supplements such as nitrates (NO3−), including organic foods such as beets, promote muscle recovery and relieve fatigue. This study aimed to comprehensively summarise the available literature on the effect of NO3− consumption on exercise-related fatigue and muscle damage. Methods: A systematic search was carried out based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) using electronic databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). From a total of 1634 studies identified, 15 studies were included in this review. Results: Based on the review, NO3− intake provokes physiological and metabolic responses that could potentially boost exercise-related recovery. NO3− could improve recovery indicators related to strength, pain, inflammation, and muscle damage. Conclusions: Despite the relative proven effectiveness of NO3− on recovery after aerobic and anaerobic efforts, based on the heterogeneity of the procedures (e.g., dosage, chronic vs. acute intake, participants’ characteristics, variables and outcomes), it could be premature to suggest its extended use in sports.

Purpose: To compare nutritional habits, physical function and psychological constructs between Costa Rican older adults from urban and rural zones.Methods: Male and female older adults aged ? 65 yr. from urban (n = 185) and rural (n = 109) Costa Rica were assessed on nutritional habits, physical function measures, and cognitive function by a face-to-face interview.Results: Rural older adults consumed more daily carbohydrates, protein, and energy at breakfast and lunch (p < 0.05 for all), and more carbohydrates (p ? 0.001), fat (p = 0.002), protein (p ? 0.001), and energy (p ? 0.001) at dinner than urban elderly. Aerobic power (p = 0.044) was higher in urban compared to rural elderly. A correlation was found between aerobic power and global fatigue (r = -0.20, p = 0.014) in urban elderly. Lifetime cognitive activity correlated to total energy (r = 0.37, p = 0.003), carbohydrate (r = 0.37, p = 0.002), and protein (r = 0.34, p = 0.005) consumption in rural elderly. Higher depression scores (p = 0.048), and lower lifetime cognitive activity were observed in urban compared to rural elderly (p = 0.004).Conclusion: The health profile is positive for either group depending on the variable analyzed, except for a higher aerobic power, which provides benefits to the entire cohort.

El objetivo fue conocer el efecto de las fiestas decembrinas en la composición corporal y la ingesta dietética de futbolistas de Colima FC. Metodología: participaron 27 jugadores de fútbol profesional “Colima FC”. Se realizaron medidas antropométricas con el protocolo ISAK antes y después de las fiestas decembrinas para estimar la composición corporal [porcentaje de masa grasa (MG) y masa libre de grasa (MLG)], así como evaluación dietética mediante recordatorio de 24 horas pasos múltiples antes y durante las fiestas decembrinas. Resultados: en la composición corporal no existió cambios en el peso corporal, sin embargo, existieron cambios dentro de la composición corporal, en dos componentes se encontró una diferencia significativa en MG (p=0.001) y MLG (p=0.05). A pesar de que se observó un cambio en su consumo calórico, no se encontró diferencia significativa (p=0.738). Conclusión: en periodos cortos como lo son las fiestas decembrinas, hay influencia en la composición corporal, por lo que se deben promover estrategias para generar un mantenimiento en periodos vacacionales.